Arsenal: Can we have some consistency, please?

Arsenal have been bounced from the FA Cup, and it’s come down to the defense yet again. Can we find some consistency in this rubble?

Arsenal’s FA Cup journey is over for another year and boy did it end with a whimper. Once again it was our defensive mistakes that cost us the tie, a complete turnaround from what was a solid performance against Chelsea last weekend.

It’s an all to familiar story. One week, the Gunners turn in a performance when the odds are against them and the fans and pundits think they’ve have turned a corner, but the very next week the old problems rear their heads again and we are seemingly back to square one.

It raises so many questions on how the team has the capability to raise a performance but are then unable to keep the momentum going, and how one week our defence looks water-tight but then the next the players look like they have never played together.

You can say Hector Bellerin’s injury disrupted Unai Emery’s team selection for last night’s game, and Sokratis’ injury in the first 20 minutes didn’t help matters either, but there can be no excuse for the way Arsenal defended the first two goals.

Three players went to Romelelu Lukaku in an attempt to defend, leaving Sanchez completely unmarked for the opener and we were completely overpowered for the second just two minutes later with Kolasinac not even attempting a challenge.

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We did muster a response for the remainder of the first half and Aubameyang gave us hope just before half time. However, we toiled in the second half and we lacked any real creativity, which was all the more confusing when Emery took off Iwobi, a player who looked to be our most creative outlet, and brought on Ozil who offered nothing in the last 30 minutes.

A third goal was always inevitable, and it proved when again we were caught on the counter attack.

Unai Emery said after the game that he was pleased with the performance but I can’t really see what positives he can take away from last night. The injuries to Sokratis and Koscielny couldn’t have come at a worse time and although not likely to be long-term, the early impression is that they won’t be in contention for the next few games.

Unai Emery has to have a better back up plan then putting Granit Xhaka in the centre of defence. If we aren’t going to dip into the transfer market then Emery needs to promote young defenders into the first team and give them a chance.

Playing players out of position is further disrupting our team and if we are wanting results and consistency to improve, then Emery needs to think of something else.